Raven’s Reading Rainbow: Emerald To Crescent?

I’ve been reading Tarot for more than thirty years and reading professionally at Seattle’s Edge of the Circle Books for more than 15 years. My belief is that Tarot is best used for putting you in touch with your own subconscious, allowing you to make healthy decisions that can change your life for the better. My readings tend to be commonsensical, geared toward helping the client deal with issues and obstacles to wholeness in a way that brings a sense of self-empowerment.

In this weekly column, I’ll take you questions and perform a Tarot Reading just for you. You can submit your question using the link below. You can even submit questions anonymously!

This week’s question comes from an anonymous reader, who asks: My husband and I are thinking of moving to New Orleans. Will this be a prosperous move for us? We would like to move in 6 months.

Hey Anon! I did a spread called The Star this week because it’s quite useful for figuring out what really matters in any given situation, and thus is wonderful for gaining clarity. It’s also a terrific spread for advice, and for sparking new ways to think about questions that we’ve been cogitating on for a good long time.

I also added a “Past, Present, Future” mini-spread at the end of your reading to answer the question of “Will this be a prosperous move for us?” in a way that could give a more definitive answer than the advice-oriented nature of the Star Spread. This spread has a time limit of six months, so it should give you an idea of how successful this venture will be.

For starters, once I’ve shuffled, cut and laid out the cards, I like to take a look at the card on the bottom of the deck. It gives me a feeling or a tone for the reading. In this case, you’ve got the Queen of Wands. This card shows you as a vivacious, warm, and loving person, who can be a bit of a Diva! You may make friends easily, and enjoy being the center of attention. You can lead others with your own sense of enthusiasm. You may have a flair for the dramatic, and so may be interested in living in places that allow you to express that side of yourself. You may also be realizing that there’s a need to take a certain sense of self back, and may be looking for opportunities to expand in terms of those personal goals.

On to the reading proper.

I pulled six cards for this layout.

Card 1: Present (Where You Are Now); 8 of Cups

When the 8 of Cups shows up in a reading, you may be feeling utterly drained by the circumstances you find yourself in currently. You may find that your environment has become a bit of a “rat race” and may wish to disconnect yourself from it. It may be that you’re ending a certain cycle or phase of your life and may be considering the next leg of your personal journey. You could be wishing to leave a situation that has worn you out. Instead of running away from it, it seems you’re drawn to a new destination that you feel will bring more meaning into your life.

Card 2: Advice for the Situation; The Hanged Man, Reversed

In this situation, you are advised to consider your own needs carefully, and if you find yourself making sacrifice after sacrifice for those who do not have your best wishes at heart, make a different choice. Don’t martyr yourself for others, when it is detrimental to your health and happiness. It may be time to stop deferring your life.

Card 3: The Challenge You Must Face; The Knight of Swords

The key here is to think first but act quickly and decisively. This is not a time to dilly-dally. There’s a need for urgency born of self-protection when the Knight of Swords comes up in a reading. So, get all the information you can, get your ducks in a row, and move deliberately towards your goal. Act in your own best interest!

Card 4: Positive Uses of Your Energy At This Time; The Wheel of Fortune

Huge changes are happening all around you, and it’s best to go with the flow and not resist them. Instead, before you ride the wave, figure out where and how you want to land. Take advantage of new opportunities and options that might not have been available or workable, even a short time ago. The world has opened up for you. Time to seize the night!

Card 5: More Positive Actions; The Queen of Swords

Keep a cool head. The Queen of Swords is the cool, organized, no-nonsense counterpart to her cousin, the hot-blooded Queen of Wands. While you may want to jump into things, letting excitement drive your actions and decisions, The Queen of Swords advises that you look at strategy, logistics and coldly logical ways of making your dreams come true.

Card 6: The Crucial Insight; The Tower

There’s no doubt about it, this card represents upheaval in a big way. Moving cross-country definitely qualifies. You may worry about fundamental changes in the way you see yourself, the way you view your life. But you’ve already been through a life-altering realization, haven’t you? This is a chance to remake your lives as you and your husband see fit, as you purposely tear everything down to its base foundations in order to begin anew and start fresh.

Past: 3 of Pentacles, Reversed

You may have been feeling that your quality of life was lacking in some way. It seems that work and creative outlets also have ceased to be fulfilling, as well.

Present: 4 of Wands, Reversed

Currently, you may find yourself waiting for that one important milestone to be reached before you can celebrate and go on to the next big thing in your life. The harvest, or culmination of all your hard work, is coming soon. Though it might be delayed a little, it will arrive. Party!

Future: 7 of Pentacles, Reversed

This card shows you refusing to keep investing in a situation that has ceased to bear fruit. Instead, you may change your priorities when it comes to how best to spend your money. In other words, you may decide to quit banging your head against a fiscal brick wall. The struggle is over.

Wrapping it Up

This reading shows that there are a great many opportunities ahead for you, Anon! Just be careful to plan your relocation with precision. It might be time to get a move on. If you can figure out what’s worth your resources and what isn’t, you’ll have that new beginning you’ve been wishing for. Enjoy your move from the Emerald city to New Orleans, the Crescent City.
Carpe Noctem!

Submit your question to Raven now using the form here. Each week, Raven will choose a question and perform a personal Tarot card reading, offering her advice, insight, and wisdom based on what the cards say.

About The Author

Erica (Raven) Branch-Butler is a full-time, professional, Tarot Reader and consultant who has worked for Edge of the Circle Books in Seattle for the last 16 years. She is the Editrix of the Edge of the Circle Books Newsletter Blog. Erica is also a published illustrator of children’s books and video game concept art and is currently designing an African-American Tarot Deck based on rural, Midwestern, African-American folklore and Magical practices. She is also the bassist for the Seattle Dark Rock/Gothic/Industrial band Legion Within. Legion Within is currently in the process of releasing its 5th formal CD, entitled Idiot Prime, which is a protest of the Corporate Colonization of Seattle’s Capitol Hill.